Amusement game

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a win method for use in an amusement game, and an amusement game  10  that utilises the win method. In each play or attempt of the game the player has the choice of trying for a major prize  33  or vending a minor prize  32 . If they opt for the minor prize  32 , the minor prize is vended and the game ends  36 . If they opt for the major prize  33  the game continues. If they win the major prize  34 , a major prize is vended  35  and the game ends  36 . If they do not win the major prize and it is not the last attempt  37 , the game continues. They have the option of trying for the major prize again  33  or opting for the minor prize  32 . On the last attempt  37 , if the player opts for a major prize and loses, they do not win any prize and the game ends  36.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to amusement games that dispense prizes.Such amusement games enable users to participate in game playimplemented by the amusement game and win prizes in response to the gameplay outcome.

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

Amusement games that vend or dispense prizes come in many forms and arewell known. Amusement games are provided in amusement arcades, fairgrounds and many other locations. They come in the form of machines orapparatus that implement game play on the basis of user input andmachine programming or configuration. They allow people to participatein the game play offered, and the game machines provide or dispenseprizes in response to the outcome of the game play. Amusement games comein myriad forms. For example, computer or video type games that includethe ability to dispense prizes, coin operated games, and vendingmachines that implement games could all be considered amusement games.There are many others also. Such games can be mechanical and/orelectronic in their structure.

Amusement games include a criteria by which they determine how and whento dispense prizes and what prizes to dispense. Generally prizes aredispensed based on the outcome of the game play after the participanthas played one or more “rounds” of the game. The output of the game playmay be based on luck, skill or a combination of both. When certain gameplay outcomes are achieved, a particular prize or prizes will bedispensed to the player, and when other outcomes are achieved no prizesmay be dispensed. Games might have a hierarchy of prizes that aredispensed; some prizes being more desirable than others, those beingmore desirable being harder to win. The amusement game is configuredwith criteria to determine which game play outcome(s) result in whichprizes (if any) being dispensed.

For example, in many amusement games a major and minor prize system isimplemented with specific criteria required for winning a prize. In thissystem, players need to reach a certain level within the game to be ableto win a minor prize. When the user plays the game and they reach thatlevel, they are offered a choice of winning the minor prize attached tothat level or continuing to try to win a major prize. If they choose towin the minor prize, the machine dispenses the prize and the game ends.If the player continues to play for the major prize and wins, then theyreceive the major prize from the machine. However, if they continue totry for the major prize and fail then the game ends and they do not winany prizes at all.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the invention to provide an amusement game thatallows the user a choice of winning a minor prize or playing for a majorprize.

In one aspect the present invention may be said to consist in anamusement game adapted to dispense prizes comprising: a processor forgenerating game play, an display adapted to communicate game playoutcomes generated by the processor to a user, an input adapted toenable a user to influence the processor's generation of game playoutcomes, a dispenser adapted to store prizes and dispense prizes via anoutlet, wherein the processor executes a program and is adapted tooperate the dispenser to dispense prizes to a user in accordance withthe program, the program adapted to: i) receive input indicating whetherthe user wants to win a major prize or minor prize, ii) if the receivedinput indicates the user wants to win a minor prize, control a dispenserof the amusement game to dispense a minor prize, iii) if the receivedinput indicates the user wants to win a major prize, a) generate gameplay, b) if the game play outcome corresponds to a user winning a majorprize, operate the dispenser to dispense a major prize, c) if the gameplay outcome does not correspond to a user winning a major prize,determining whether the user is allowed a further attempt to win aprize, d) if the user is allowed a further attempt to win a prize,reiterate steps i)-iii), e) if the user is not allowed a further attemptto win a prize, terminate game play.

Preferably, the program determines the user is allowed a further attemptto win a prize if the number of times the user has attempted to win aprize is below a threshold number.

Preferably, the program determines the user is allowed a further attemptto win a prize if a predetermined period of time has not elapsed.

Preferably, a major prize is more desirable than a minor prize.

Preferably, the display is a physical back-lit game board, mechanicaldisplay or alternatively a video screen.

Preferably, the input comprises one or more control devices to enable auser to control game play.

Preferably, each control device is one or more of a: joystick, button,dial, lever, knob.

Alternatively, the input is a touch screen and the control devices areindicia displayed on the touch screen.

In one embodiment, the game play imitates a board game and game playoutcome corresponds to positions reached on the board game.

Preferably, a major prize is more desirable than a minor prize.

Preferably, in step d) above, for at least one reiteration the programis adapted to reiterate step only.

In another aspect the present invention may be said to consist in aprogram for implementation in an amusement game played by a user fordetermining when to dispense a prize to the user, the program adaptedto: i) receive input indicating whether the user wants to win a majorprize or minor prize, ii) if the received input indicates the user wantsto win a minor prize, operate a dispenser of the amusement game todispense a minor prize, iii) if the received input indicates the userwants to win a major prize, a) generate game play, b) if the game playoutcome corresponds to a user winning a major prize, operate a dispenserof the amusement game to dispense a major prize, c) if the game playoutcome does not correspond to a user winning a major prize, determiningwhether the user is allowed a further attempt to win a prize, d) if theuser is allowed a further attempt to win a prize, reiterate stepsi)-iii), e) if the user is not allowed a further attempt to win a prize,terminate game play.

Preferably, the program determines that the user is allowed a furtherattempt to win a prize if the number of times the user has attempted towin a prize is below a threshold number.

Preferably, the program determines the user is allowed a further attemptto win a prize if a predetermined period of time has not elapsed.

Preferably, a major prize is more desirable than a minor prize.

Preferably, in step d) above, for at least one reiteration the programis adapted to reiterate step iii) only.

In another aspect the present invention may be said to consist in amethod for determining when to dispense a prize to a user of anamusement game, the method comprising the steps of: i) receiving inputindicating whether the user wants to win a major prize or minor prize,ii) if the received input indicates the user wants to win a minor prize,operating a dispenser of the amusement game to dispense a minor prize,iii) if the received input indicates the user wants to win a majorprize, a) generating game play, b) if the game play outcome correspondsto a user winning a major prize, operating a dispenser of the amusementgame to dispense a major prize, c) if the game play outcome does notcorrespond to a user winning a major prize, determining whether the useris allowed a further attempt to win a prize, d) if the user is allowed afurther attempt to win a prize, reiterating steps i)-iii), e) if theuser is not allowed a further attempt to win a prize, terminating gameplay.

Preferably, the method determines that the user is allowed a furtherattempt to win a prize if the number of times the user has attempted towin a prize is below a threshold number.

Preferably, the method determines the user is allowed a further attemptto win a prize if a predetermined period of time has not elapsed.

Preferably, a major prize is more desirable than a minor prize.

Preferably, in step d) above, for at least one reiteration the programis adapted to reiterate step iii) only.

The term “comprising” as used in the claims means “consisting at leastin part of”. When interpreting statements in the claims which includethat term, the features, prefaced by that term in each statement, allneed to be present but other features can also be present. Related termssuch as “comprise” and “comprised” are to be interpreted in the samemanner.

In this specification where reference has been made to patentspecifications, other external documents, or other sources ofinformation, this is generally for the purpose of providing a contextfor discussing the features of the invention. Unless specifically statedotherwise, reference to such external documents is not to be construedas an admission that such documents, or such sources of information, inany jurisdiction, are prior art, or form part of the common generalknowledge in the art.

To those skilled in the art to which the invention relates, many changesin construction and widely differing embodiments and applications of theinvention will suggest themselves without departing from the scope ofthe invention as defined in the appended claims. The disclosures and thedescriptions herein are purely illustrative and are not intended to bein any sense limiting.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Preferred embodiments of the invention will be described with areference to the following figures, of which:

FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of a generic amusement game that implementsthe present invention,

FIG. 2 shows in generic schematic form an amusement game that implementsthe present invention,

FIG. 3 is a flow diagram showing a method for determining prizedispensing,

FIG. 4 shows an input means for one embodiment of the invention, and

FIG. 5 shows a play field displayed on an output means for oneembodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In the present specification, the term “amusement game” corresponds toany machine, apparatus, game or the like that offers game play whereby auser can at least partially influence the outcome of game playimplemented on the amusement game. The term “game play” refers to theplaying of a particular game, or at least a portion of such a game. Theterm “game play outcome” relates to any outcomes, events or the likethat result from playing the particular game or a portion of it. Thegame itself could be one of myriad game types, such as games of chance,board games, card games, games of skill or the like. The types of gamesthat could be implemented will be known to those skilled in the art.

FIG. 1 shows in generic schematic form a block diagram of an amusementgame 10 adapted to dispense prizes in accordance with criteriaconfigured or programmed into the machine 10. The amusement gameimplements win criteria in accordance with a preferred embodiment of theinvention that are based on outcomes of game play implemented on themachine 10. It will be appreciated that the criteria for determiningwhich prize to vend, and when, in accordance with the invention could beapplied in a range of different amusement game types. The presentinvention is broadly described in relation to a generic amusement gameas shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, and with one specific embodiment of the gamebeing described in relation to FIGS. 4 and 5. It will be appreciatedthat the present invention for determining which prizes to vend, andwhen, should not be limited just to the types of games described in thespecification, and the particular nature or game play of those games.Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the invention could beapplied in a wide range of amusement game types operating a range ofgames.

Referring to FIG. 1 the amusement game includes an output means 11 andinput means 12. The output means 11 could be any type of output meanseither mechanical and/or electronic that indicates to a player variousstages or outcomes of the game play that occur as the game is played.For example, the output means could be a video screen or similar thatdisplays graphical representations of various aspects and eventsoccurring in a game. Alternatively, it could be a back-lit or nonback-lit game board. Alternatively, the output means could be a range oflights, indicators, audible outputs and other means for communicatinggame play outcome to a user. Similarly, the input means 12 could includeone or more of a range of mechanical and/or electronic means forenabling a user to input information into an amusement game, makeselections and generally play the game. For example, the input means 12comprise one or more of joysticks, buttons, levers, dials, knobs, touchscreens, and the like for controlling the game.

The amusement game 10 also includes a controller 13 which operates thevarious functions of the amusement game. It is or comprises a processor(such as a microprocessor) or similar with a program or other softwarethat operates the amusement game in accordance with the invention. Inparticular the processor generates game play as well as performing otherfunctions. The controller 13 is coupled to the output means and inputmeans 11, 12 and receives and transmits information from and to these asthe game is played. In particular, the controller will receive inputfrom the user via the input means and operate the game based on thisinput and in accordance with a computer program. It will then determinevarious stages of the game and communicate these to the user via theoutput means 12. The controller 13 is also coupled to or controls adispenser 14. The dispenser includes a repository of prizes, an outletand also a mechanical or other suitable means for providing one or moreof the prizes in the repository to a player as and when required via theoutlet. When the controller 13 determines a user is to win a prize inaccordance with events taking place in the game, the controller operatesthe dispenser 14 to dispense or otherwise vend the particular prize tothe user. The dispenser 14 could be any electronic and/or mechanicaltype dispenser for vending prizes that is known to those skilled in thisarea of technology.

FIG. 2 shows a possible physical form of an amusement game according tothe invention. The amusement game includes a physical outer housing 20of a suitable size. It may be a free standing game or alternatively besmaller and adapted for support on another means. In this case theamusement game has a video screen output 21 which displays variousstatic and moving images to communicate the various events and stages ofplay of the game as they occur. It also includes input means 23 whichare accessible to the user. In this case the input means is in the formof a touch screen display which displays various buttons and othercontrol indicia that the user can operate by touching the screen 23 inthe appropriate places. It will be appreciated that mechanical buttons,joysticks and other control devices can be used instead. The amusementgame 20 includes a dispenser (not shown) inside the housing 20, whichincludes a repository of prizes. The game also includes a dispenseroutlet 22 through which prizes that have been dispensed by the machinecan be retrieved by the player. The dispenser 14 can be controlled toselect one or more of the prizes in the repository and dispense them viathe outlet 22.

As discussed previously, the invention can be implemented in any one ofa large range of different types of amusement games which offerdifferent types of games to a user. The present invention operates acriteria for determining when a user is to win a prize and the type ofprize they win. This can be applied to a range of different gamesimplemented on a range of different amusement games. The criteria areprimarily executed in the processor 14. For example, the display mightnot be a video screen but some type of other display. It could be amechanical means, or a physical display or game board that mimics ordisplays the play field of the game. The physical display or game boardmight be shaped in a particular manner to mimic the play field, and havelights, indicators, sounders and other means for communication game playto the player.

The preferred criteria for determining when and what to dispense isdepicted in FIG. 3. This shows a flow diagram of how an amusement gamesdetermines when and what to dispense based on outcomes of game playimplemented on a machine. Initially, the game starts, step 30, andvarious game play is shown on the output means 11. Either immediately orat a certain point in the game, the user is offered to select whetherthey wish to receive a minor prize, or alternatively continue playingthe game in order to try to win a major prize, step 31. The processorcontrols this process by operating the various input and output means12, 11 as required, as will be understood by those skilled in the art.In general terms, a major prize will be more desirable to win than aminor prize. For example, a major prize might be worth more. The natureof major and minor prizes could alter remarkably depending on thecircumstances, and can be decided as appropriate by the game operator.If the user selects to receive the minor prize, step 32, then theamusement game dispenses a minor prize in the usual way and the gameends, step 36.

Alternatively, if the user selects that they wish to try to win a majorprize step 33, the game continues. At this point, the amusement gameimplements game play in the usual way. The user continues to control thegame 10 through the input means in order to participate in the game playin the usual manner. This might involve completing one “round” or “turn”of the game play. After completing that portion of the game play, andindicating the outcomes on the output means 11 as required, theamusement game 10 then determines whether the game play outcome isassociated with the user winning the major prize, step 34. This could,for example, be when a user reaches a certain level in the game. If itdoes, then the machine 10 dispenses a major prize, step 35, in the usualway and game ends, step 36.

If, however, at that point the game play outcome results in the user notwinning a major prize then the amusement game determines whether thiswas the final attempt at winning permitted, step 37. In the methodaccording to the invention, the user has two or more chances to try towin the major prize in place of a minor prize. The number of chancesthat the user has to win the major prize will depend on theconfiguration of the game in accordance with the games owner's wishes.For example, a user might have three attempts to win the major prize orany number up to 10. Other alternatives for numbers of attempts arepossible. Alternatively another method might be to provide the user witha certain time within which to win the major prize. Yet anotheralternative might be to make the last attempt correspond to a particularlevel or section in the game. Other alternatives for determining whenthe last attempt occurs could also be envisaged by those skilled in theart. At each point during the game the user would be given a choice towin a major or minor prize, however when the time runs out the choice isremoved. Other alternatives are also possible.

If the processor determines that it is the final attempt, then no prizeis dispensed and the game ends, step 36. However, if the user has atleast one more attempt at the major prize, the amusement game continuesin the usual way. At a certain point in the game, the amusement gamethen returns to step 31 and offers the user the chance to receive theminor prize, step 32, or try again for a major prize. This methodcarries on until either a) the user selects a minor prize and it isdispensed, b) the user tries for a major prize and wins the major prizeand the prize is dispensed, or c) the user tries to win a major prize,does not successfully do so on the final attempt and no prize isdispensed at all.

In each iteration the user has the option to go for the certainty ofwinning a minor prize, or take a risk and try for the major prize. Inone possible embodiment, when winning a major prize, the player will getto select their desired prize from a number of “major” prizes.Similarly, when winning a minor prize, the player will get to selecttheir desired prize from a number of “minor” prizes. However, whenrisking the major prize there is still the option of being offered theminor prize for several iterations until a final attempt will stop. Ineach case or turn the minor prize may alter, or become of diminishingvalue. However, this is not an essential feature, the minor prize mightnot diminish in value, or change each iteration. Therefore there may besome incentive for the user to vend the minor prize even before thefinal attempt as they may win a more desirable minor prize than if theychoose to receive a minor prize at a later iteration of the game.

As an alternative, the game might not provide a minor prize option ateach reiteration of the game. For example, the game operator mightchange the game so that there are, for example, five attempts at themajor prize and only for the first three attempts will the player havethe option of taking a minor prize. In the remainder, the user will onlyhave the option of winning the major prize. In this case, rather thanreiterating all the steps of the game to provide the user with a choiceof a minor or major prize, the game will only reiterate steps that allowthe user to win a major prize. Clearly, any other variations of thenumber of times major/minor prizes are offered for each reiteration willbe apparent to those skilled in the art. The game operator has theflexibility to alter these parameters as desired.

A particular implementation of the game will now be described inrelation to FIGS. 4 and 5. As noted earlier, it will be appreciated thatthe game is not restricted to such an implementation however this gameis provided for exemplary purposes. In this example, the game is a gameof “snakes and ladders” which is a well known board game. The amusementgame enables the user to play snakes and ladders and win the prizes inaccordance with events in the game play and the criteria of determiningprize vending as described in relation to FIG. 3.

In this example a play field 40, which is analogous to the graphics on atraditional board game, is displayed which represents game play. Thedisplay might be a physical piece of shaped plastic that looks like a“snakes and ladders” game board, with various spaces for indicating gameplay. It includes backlights or other indicators for representing theplayer's position/actions during game play. Alternatively, the displaymight be a video output screen, for example screen 21 shown in FIG. 2,that displays the play field 40. Irrespective of how it is displayed,the play field includes a number of positions or spaces which a playercan occupy and advance forward and backwards depending on a randomnumber. The play field 40 also includes various “snakes” and “ladders”that span across different spaces. When occupying a space in which asnake or ladder extends from or to, the user's “position” will bealtered to a corresponding space. Further details of the game will beknown to those skilled in the art. It will be appreciated that the playfield 40 could alternatively be displayed as a physical graphic orsimilar, with LEDs or other indicators placed in the various spaces toindicate the current position of the user. Illuminating the LED willindicate where the player is at any particular point in time. In thecase of the play field 40 being displayed on a screen 21, a graphic canbe displayed on one or more of the spaces indicating where the userresides at that particular point in the game.

FIG. 5 shows the control or input means 12 by which the user plays thegame and selects various options. In a preferred embodiment thesecontrols are displayed graphically on a touch screen, however it will beappreciated they could be provided in another manner such as throughbuttons, control knobs, joysticks, dials, levers or the like. The touchdisplay screen 50 includes a select button 51 which enables a user toselect whether or not they want to try to win a major prize. A vendingbouncing ball button 52 is used by the player to indicate they wish towin a minor prize. A start/stop button 53 is provided for controlling torandom number wheel 55. A display 54 is provided that displays thenumber of attempts the player has left before their option to vend aminor prize is lost. In the centre of the screen 50 is a graphic 55showing a needle and wheel for determining how many spaces the playerwill move along the play field 40 on any particular turn. By pushing thestart/stop button 53 the needle will begin rotating and by pushing thestart/stop button again the needle will stop. The position on which theneedle lands indicates a number which determines the number of spacesthat the player will move on the play field 40 for that turn.Alternatively, the needle is spinning continuously. The needle onlystops and shows a number when the player presses the start/stop button.If they do not, the needle keeps spinning. If they select the minorprize, the needle keeps spinning also. It will be appreciated that analternative means of determining random number for advancing along theplay field 40 could also be envisaged.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5 and also the method of playing the game asshown in FIG. 3, the manner in which the game is played will bedescribed. The player will start the game by inserting coins orcrediting the game in another suitable manner for example by tokens,debit card or credit card. At this point the game is ready to play theplayer is offered the option of receiving a minor prize and ending thegame, or continuing to play the game to attempt to win the major prize,step 31. If at step 31 the user decides to take the minor prize, thenthe machine dispenses the minor prize, step 32, in this case a bouncingball (or other suitable minor prize). At this point the game ends, step36, and further credit is required to play the game again. The userselects to receive the minor prize by pressing the vend bouncing ballbutton 52 on the input means screen 50. It will be appreciated thatother types of minor prizes could be vended as alternatives.

However, if the user at step 31 decides they want to try to win themajor prize they press the select button 51 and then the game continues.The major prize is won by advancing the position indicator through allthe spaces until it reaches the “win space” 41 at the top of the playfield 40. The user then commences playing the game by pressing thestart/stop button 53 and releasing it to determine the number of spacesthey can move on the play field 40. When a number has been selected bythe needle, for example “1” as shown in FIG. 5, the play field 40 isthen updated to show the new position of the player. Initially theplayer starts in space one, and can move forward the number of spacesindicated by the needle and the wheel 55. If after repositioning theplayer, the player ends up on occupying a space where there is a snakeor ladder the player's position will be moved accordingly. For examplein this case where the player moves to position two the ladder willactually move the player up to position 10 and this will be indicated onthe play field 40 on the video screen 21. This constitutes one turn ofthe game.

At this point the amusement game determines whether the player has wonthe major prize, step 34, namely whether their position indicator hasadvanced all the way to the “win space” 41. If the position indicatorhas done so, the amusement game determines that they have won the majorprize, step 34, and the game dispenses the major prize, step 35, and thegame ends, step 36. Alternatively, if the position indicator has notreached the win space 41 then the game at step 37 determines whetherthis was the player's final attempt.

In this embodiment of the invention, the player is given three attemptsto win the major prize, before failing to do so results in a no prizeand ending of the game. At this point, the user has only attempted towin the major prize once and therefore the game will not end, but ratherthe user gets another chance to play the game further. The processorreturns to step 31 where it waits for user input on whether to take theminor prize, or continue to try for the major prize. The display 54shows the number of times left the user gets to try for the major prize,in this case, three. The display will then decrease the display 54 byone to show that only two attempts are now left.

At this point step 31 again the user determines whether they want toreceive the minor prize by pressing the vend bouncing ball button 52, oralternatively continue to try for the major prize by pressing selectbutton 51. If they choose the minor prize, the game 10 vends the minorprize, step 32, and the game ends, step 36. Otherwise, if the userchooses to try for the major prize, step 33, the game continues. Theuser presses the start/stop button 53 and releases it again to determineanother number, and the position indicator is advanced the number ofspaces on the needle and wheel, and then also advanced or retreated inaccordance with the play field 40.

After taking the turn and moving the position indicator accordingly, thesystem determines in step 34 whether the position indicator has reachedthe “win space” 41 and that the user has won the major prize. If theyhave, the major prize is vended, step 35, and the game ends, step 36.Alternatively if the final attempt has not been reached, in accordancewith the display 54, the user gets another go. Where it is the finalattempt, namely the display 54 shows the number zero, then if the userhas not won the major prize by reaching the win space 41, then the gameends, step 36, without a prize being dispensed. The user receives noprize and must enter more credit in order to play the game again.

It will be appreciated that it is not necessary for the steps of themethod to occur in the particular order noted—any suitable order ispossible For example, a player may have one or more turns of the gamebefore they are offered a selection of a minor or major prize.Alternatively, several steps of the game may occur between each choiceof vending a minor prize or going for a major prize. Other variationswill also be apparent to those skilled in the art.

1-22. (canceled)
 23. A method for determining when to dispense a prizeto a user of an amusement game, the method comprising the steps of: i)receiving input indicating whether the user wants to win a major prizeor a minor prize; ii) if the received input indicates the user wants towin the minor prize, operate a dispenser of the amusement game todispense the minor prize; iii) if the received input indicates the userwants to win the major prize: a) generate game play; b) if the game playoutcome corresponds to a user winning the major prize, operating thedispenser of the amusement game to dispense a major prize; c) if thegame play outcome does not correspond to a user winning the major prize,determining whether the user is allowed a further attempt to win aprize; d) if the user is allowed a further attempt to win a prize,reiterating steps i)-iii); e) if the user is not allowed a furtherattempt to win a prize, terminate game play.
 24. A method according toclaim 23, wherein the step of determining that the user is allowed afurther attempt to win a prize comprises determining that the number oftimes the user has attempted to win a prize is below a threshold number.25. A method according to claim 23, wherein the step of determining thatthe user is allowed a further attempt to win a prize comprisesdetermining that a predetermined period of time has not elapsed.
 26. Amethod according to claim 23, wherein a major prize is more desirablethan a minor prize.
 27. A method according to claim 23, wherein in stepd) for at least one reiteration the method includes reiterating stepiii) only.